WHY IS POPE FRANCIS SO SPECIAL TO THE CATHOLICS OF SRI LANKA?

The URBI ET ORBI Blessing on Easter Sunday (April 20, 2025) followed by the surprise visit (in the Popemobile) to the people gathered at the Vatican Square (despite his delicate health condition) will always be remembered by us as a fitting farewell by our much loved Holy Father, Pope Francis who passed away the following morning April 21, 2025.

- by Victor Silva Retd. FCA, FCMA, MCIM

During his pontificate of 12 years, Pope Francis gave a new leadership to the Church by witnessing to evangelical poverty, simplicity of life and Christian ascetism. He travelled far and wide on his pastoral visits - especially to the developing and poor countries. It was therefore a great blessing when Pope Francis decided to visit our country on his way to the Philippines in January 2015. Our joy was greatly enhanced when he decided to canonize the beloved Apostle of Sri Lanka — Blessed Joseph Vaz on our soil.

We had waited for this great blessing for over 300 years because it is this humble Indian priest from Goa who came to the rescue of our ancestors in faith who were being bitterly persecuted by the Dutch colonial rulers in the 17th century after taking over our country from the Portuguese. They had proscribed the Catholic faith and expelled all the priests and missionaries who numbered approximately 120. The Supreme Pontiff (Pope Innocent XI) tried very much to get the Dutch colonial powers to permit at least one or two priests into the country. But the Dutch rulers persistently refused.

Therefore, no European missionary could ever dream of entering the country as their white-skin would make them easily identifiable by the Dutch rulers. This resulted in our Catholic forefathers being abandoned in the practice of their faith for almost 30 years without a single priest to minister to them.